Hey everyone! Becky here, Your Chicago Elopement specialist. I’ve done so many Chicago City Hall weddings and I’m here to share my knowledge with you.

I’ve written and rewritten this update many times since Covid, but the rules kept changing down at City Hall. And so I waited and waited, but I think we are finally at a point that we know what our new “normal” down there will be. At least for this year.

A few years back I wrote THIS article for Lakeshore in Love about getting married at City Hall that has gotten a lot of views. While some of it still holds true, here is your post pandemic update.

First of all I realize that the information I’m giving here is NOT what is on the government website. They have NEVER updated the site since Covid despite many many changes. To get the most updated information your best bet is to call and listen to the voicemail. They do a good job of keeping it updated.  The number is 312-603-5660.

What has Changed

The Hours. 

You can walk in and get married Tuesday – Friday from 9am-11:30 and from 2-3:15pm without an appointment (closed on court holidays).

They are now closed on Monday for in person weddings, but still offering Zoom weddings.

On Saturdays you must have an appointment. You can NOT just walk in and get married.

They are now offering 2 time slots – 9am and 9:30am. To make an appointment call 312-603-5660.

But the kicker is that they tell 20-30 couples to come at each of those times. So just because you have a 9am appointment does not mean you are getting married at 9am. In fact they will not open the door to the building until 9am so even if you’re first in line you’ll have a little wait. I would say on average to expect 45mins to an hour of time at City Hall if you’re in the 9am group. Maybe longer if you’re in the second half of the 9:30am group. On Saturdays you can only enter via the doors on the Clark street side. And again even if you get there an hour early you can’t get in the building or sign in or anything. Especially important to note that in the winter months so you aren’t standing outside freezing.

The Guest Count. 

This changed so many times during the last few years. But as of November 2023 you may now have 10 guests. So 10 and the couple (12 total) and yes your photographer counts towards that 10. Yes I know the website says 15. That is old info.

The Location for Licenses.

Previously you had to go to the Daley Center to get your marriage license. The office is now in the same building as marriage court at 119 W. Randolph St. Although there are entrances on every side as the building is a full city block. The office is on the first floor Room 120. The License cost is $60 and is issued the same day. Do not show up 5 minutes before they close or you may not make it in that day as they will cut off the line.

Cultural Center Weddings.

Since Covid these have been cancelled. We have no idea when or if they will come back or who makes that call.

But as far as we know for 2024 they are not happening.

The Legal Stuff

As much as we are all way more interested in the fun details of weddings, it’s important not to over look the legal stuff. To legally get married in Cook County (the county Chicago is in) both persons in the couple must go to one of the Clerk’s offices to get a Cook County marriage license. You both must present valid identification and pay the $60 fee. You can fill out the application online now, but you still have to go in person and show ID so I don’t know that it really saves a ton of time. But, it’s an option if you want to jump start the process. Each location has its own hours so check that out on the link.  You must get the license at least the day before in order for it to be valid. It is good for 60 days in Cook County only. No witness is needed in Illinois.

They will issue you the license that day and you will bring it will you to get marriage. The judge will sign it and return it for you at City Hall. It takes 7-10 business days before you can pick up or request copies. If you’re in the area you can do this in person (only 1 person needs to go) or you can request copies online and they will be Mailed to you. We always recommend getting extra copies as you’ll need the certified copies for things like insurance etc.

Online Application – HERE

** The online application only stays in the system for 15 days. So don’t fill this out months in advance or you will just have to do it again.**

Other Important Info

Ceremonies are performed on the lower level of City Hall.  Your best and easiest door to enter is at 119 W. Randolph St. Since the building is massive and takes up an entire city block there are multiple entrances on each side.

On Saturdays you must enter through the doors at 118 N. Clark St. and security will guide you through the building.

Once you enter the first set of doors there is an escalator to your left down to marriage court. No need to even enter the main part of the building if you enter through those doors. The new hours are 9am-11:30 and 2-3:15pm  on Tuesday – Friday and appointment only on Saturdays. You must get there and check in at least 30 minutes before the end of each session and pay a $10 fee. They only accept cash. You may have up to 10 guests, although the rooms are not very big so it will be little tight.  Just an FYI! Getting there early will not get you in earlier. They do not open the doors until the times listed and you can not put your name on the list any earlier than that. So if you arrive an hour early, you will simply be waiting for an hour and the waiting room is only open during the hours listed as well.

They are also closed on court holidays and Sundays and Monday are now Zoom only.  Most of those are ones you would suspect (Memorial Day, Christmas, Fourth of July, etc.) but there are also a couple ones you might not (like Casmir Pulaski Day). So be sure to check this list before you decide on a date!

The Fun Stuff

Now that I’ve bored you will all the legal stuff and details, let’s talk about your Chicago City Hall Intimate Wedding! Whether it’s just the two of you running off to City Hall or you are planning on bringing a few friends or family, I think the most important thing of every wedding day is to make it what you want. On any given day you can go down to city hall and see couples fully decked out in gorgeous gowns and suits and couples rocking Cubs shirts and jeans! I love the diversity and uniqueness that comes with getting married at City Hall. There are no two days that are the same.  There are no rules. Be yourselves! If you’ve always dreamed of getting married in a white dress then rock that out! If there isn’t a single dress in your wardrobe and wearing one would make your friends go, “Are you wearing a dress?!!” then opt for something that is more fitting for you.

Some couples will pick city hall because they don’t want a big wedding. Some couples like it because it’s a more budget friendly option. Whatever the reason may be, don’t be afraid to be yourself.

So What is the Ceremony like?

As with any wedding, there are no two city hall weddings that are the same. When getting married at Chicago City Hall a judge will preform the ceremony. The judges rotate so I’ve rarely seen the same judge more than once. They have a script they will read from and if you have rings you will exchange them. The entire ceremony is about 5 minutes long. Some judges will ask you if you’d like to say anything to each other or if you have your own vows. And you can definitely say a few words of your own to each other to personalize things a bit if you like, but it’s not required. Just be sure to let the judge know before they start the ceremony that you want to do that in case they don’t ask.

Sometimes the wait is non-existent and sometimes you may wait an hour. It is first come, first married so no appointments can be made (except for Saturdays). There is a waiting room, but on very busy days the line spills into the hallway. Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings (even with an appointment) are always the busiest. Other dates like Valentine’s Day or palindrome dates tend to be very busy as well. Often on those dates and Saturdays they will have two judges doing ceremonies to keep things moving. Also on Fridays and Saturdays couples tend to have more guests so it may appear very busy, but 2/3 of the people may be guests.

It’s always a pretty fun environment, so even if you have to wait it’s not so bad! I’ve been down there when people have made a human tunnel for the newlyweds to run through when they come out and people are always taking photos and clapping and cheering. I wish it wasn’t in the basement, but it’s a joy compared to other areas of city hall (I’m looking at you traffic court!).

Photo options

After your Chicago City Hall wedding ceremony we usually head upstairs to explore the gorgeous halls and archways of the courthouse. You always get many people walking by offering their congratulations. The halls are generally busy as people are constantly coming and going, but it’s part of the experience. The outside of the building offers beautiful golden doors and the city hall sign for that “Guess what we did!!” photo. Around the holidays they have the doors and entryways decked out as well.

On Saturdays it’s likely you won’t be able to do much, if anything, in terms of photos inside. Because it’s a government building the only thing open is marriage court. So they want you to get in and get out and not be roaming the building. The lights are usually not fully on in the hallways either. It can vary a bit based on security, but I wouldn’t plan on being able to do a ton of photos inside on a Saturday.

If you’re looking for some photo ops nearby, there are some great options in walking distance. As a Chicago Photographer who has done many many city hall wedding I’m happy to help! Just a couple blocks east is the iconic Chicago theater with its glowing sign. Around the corner a few blocks south and you will run into the Board of Trade building. A couple blocks north and you’re at the Chicago River with its red bridges and gorgeous views. In the warmer months there are also a variety of bars and restaurants along the riverwalk if you want a post wedding drink with a view!

Most Frequently Asked Questions I Get

But the Website says…..

Yes I know what the website says. As stated at the beginning of this article it never gets updated. I’ve probably been to city hall for 20-30 weddings since they reopened in 2020. I was calling down every couple weeks for years for updates and changes and I’m there enough to know what’s going on. Not to say that nothing will ever change again, but don’t trust the website.

How Long is the Wait? 

It can vary so much. I’ve been there where we’ve walked in and no one was waiting and I’ve waited for nearly 3 hours(that was on a Saturday Leap Day pre Covid when Saturdays were still no appointment and it was packed).

Weekdays are usually not as busy, but Fridays will definitely be a longer wait. Especially the afternoon session.

Even if you have an appointment on Saturday you will have a wait. They tell 20-30 couples to come at each time slot. I’ve never been out of there on a Saturday in under 40 minutes. I’d say expect more like an hour-ish.

Will we get in? 

As long as you aren’t showing up right before they close you will get in. The afternoon session is shorter than it used to be, so I’d go towards the start, but I’ve never seen them turn people away.

Feel free to reach out with any other questions you may have! Email us at info@elopetochicago.com or fill out the contact form and we can get started with the planning!